In depth and mini reviews of movies with a sprinkling of nostalgia and film music musings.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Introduction:

No one sets out to make an
iconic character, or at least those that do usually don’t accomplish this. These
characters are just connect with an audience and grow into a phenomenon. If you
are an anime fan, you know who Totoro is, you can’t escape his fuzzy presence.
If you don’t know who Totoro is, then go watch My Neighbor Totoro as soon as you can, because he is an iconic
character, not just in Japan, but around the world.

Summary:

Satsuki (Noriko Hidaka) and
Mei (Chika Sakamoto) are moving to the country with their father (Shigesato
Itoi). We soon discover that the girl’s mother (Sumi Shimamoto) is sick and
hopefully the country air will help her get well. But mother has to stay in a
local hospital until she is well enough to join the three at the new place.
After they arrive the girls think mysterious Dust Bunnies may haunt the new
home. Satsuiki and Mei explore the house and discover clues to supernatural inhabitants.

In the meantime the girls help
their dad around the house and make new friends like Kanata (Toshiyuki Amagas)
a young boy who thinks Satsuki is cute, but doesn’t know what to do about it.
They also befriend kindly old Granny (Tanie Kitbayashi) who tells them about
the forest spirits that live nearby. That is when Mei encounters the Totoro, a
huge furry creature living in a huge camphor tree near the house. Totoro and
his tiny friends befriend the girls and take them on all kinds of adventures
including flying through the air, taking a ride on a Cat Bus and entering an enchanted
tree. But when mother takes a turn for the worse is there anything Totoro can
do to help the girls in there hour of need?

Good Points:

Miyazaki creates a wonderful
sense of place and wonder in the animation

Totoro and all the
supernatural creations are a joy to behold

You grow to like all the
characters in the film

Bad Points:

There isn’t really an
overall story, more like a series of vignettes

Looking for an antagonist to
boo? Not going to find one here.

Some may find the movie too
simple or too childish (I don’t agree, but I’ve heard that argument before)

Overall:

This is a wonderful example
of family entertainment. Young children will connect with the protagonists and
fall in love with Totoro and his pals. Adults will find a nostalgic quality to
the film that is so appealing. The movie puts you into the world of a child and
does it so effectively. All the pieces come together to make a film that is
entertaining and soothing all at once. It isn’t hard to see why this became a
big hit and remains a classic in Miyazaki’s filmography ever since.

Scores
(out of 5)

Visuals: 5

Sound: 4

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 4

Direction: 5

Entertainment: 5

Total:4

In Depth Review

The big Totoro lets out a giant Yawp!

I think that one of the
toughest genres to create in movies is the family film. Most end up too dumbed
down for adults to enjoy. Others end up a little too snarky and meta to be
anything more than a mild amusement that is soon forgotten. It is rare that you
actually see a family film that is whimsical, positive and entertaining all at
once. My Neighbor Totoro should be
required viewing for anyone attempting to create family entertainment and do it
the right way.

I often hear Hayao Miyazaki
called the Japanese Walt Disney, and I think his work on My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s
Delivery Service is where that idea comes from. I appreciate the
comparison, but it doesn’t quite fit. Both men are more then just comparison
points to each other. As I mentioned above, you could compare Totoro to Mickey
Mouse when it comes to a popular icon created from family entertainment. Totoro
is inescapable in Japan. And if you have any stores near you that sell
merchandise or pop culture from Japan (especially anime or manga) odd are you’ve
seen Totoro there too.

Why the lasting appeal? Why
the accolades? Why the huge amount of success that allowed Miyazaki to continue
with his dream of making animated films into 2013? Let’s take a look at all the
different elements and see how they work together.

The pastoral and old fashioned setting.

For the first time in a
Miyazaki directed feature film we have a setting in Japan. Because we aren’t in
the post apocalyptic world of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind or the steam punk fantasy of Castle in the Sky, the design has a more down to earth feel. The
film is a period piece, set in 1958. This gives the clothing, automobiles and
town surrounding our protagonists an old fashioned but homey feel to it.

The country setting allows
Miyazaki to show off nature in the form of the giant camphor tree, the rolling
hills surrounding the village and waving open fields of grass. My Neighbor Totoro feels much more open
and airy compared to Castle in the Sky.
The setting adds to the nostalgic atmosphere that wraps the whole film in a
comfy familiar blanket, even for non-Japanese audiences.

What mysteries await in the new house?

The character design follows
Miyazaki’s normal style. They are variants on what we’ve seen in the past. The
Totoros look related to the Panda family from Panda Go Panda and Satsuki could be Nausicaa’s little sister. Old
Granny could be a stand in for Yubaba in Spirited
Away. But this movie actually establishes more designs that Miyazaki will
use in future films.

Like the previous films,
some of the visual highlights include moments when characters take flight.
Totoro uses a magic top to take to the air with Mei and Satsuki. Later in the
movie, the flying Cat Bus hurtles across the countryside and leaps high into
the air, providing a thrilling ride for those inside. It just wouldn’t be a
Miyazaki film without those moments.

Who ya gonna call? Dust Bunny Busters!

But I also like some of the
creepy scenes early in the film, when the girls explore their new house. The home has plenty of darkened passages
and closed doors that could open to anything: even a group of Dust Bunnies! Miyazaki
does a good job creating an eerie atmosphere of mystery. It’s not too scary
(like elements we’d see in Spirited Away
or Princess Mononoke). But it
creates a few moments of the uncanny as the two girls come in contact with the
spirits that inhabit the house and surrounding forest.

Sound work follows suit for
the film. Most of what we hear is typical sound effects for the pastoral
setting and vintage cars. When some magic is needed for the Totoros and the Cat
Bus then some interesting sound design is used. It is all creative and
immersive.

Mei befriends the giant Totoro.

When it came to the music
for My Neighbor Totoro Miyazaki once
again turned to his composer of choice, Joe HIsaishi. Hisaishi creates three
main melodies for the film, and they are all used to flesh out songs used in
the film and on the soundtrack album. The opening title theme Hey Lets Go! gets things off to a cheery
start. It is also used when the family goes to visit their sick mother in the
local hospital. The end title track, is the theme for the Totoros, and actually
features a chorus singing their name several times. It’s a jaunty tune and is
used several times in the film. The other theme is one used when Mei gets lost.
We only hear it a couple times at the end of the film, but Hisaishi uses the
melody for a song called The Lost Child
on the album. Hisashi creates a set of other memorable motifs for the Dust
Bunnies, Cat Bus and the girl’s mother. The music is all light, melodic and
fits the film so well. Much of the emotion and nostalgia comes from Hisaishi’s
score. While it is primarily orchestral, there is some use of 80s synthesizers
in nearly every track to supplement the music. It may be one of Hisaisihi’s
most cheerful and uplifting scores for a Miyazaki film – and that is saying
something.

Even the Cat Bus is pleased that Mei and Satsuki findeach other.

When it comes to the vocal
cast, it is important that the two main girls are able to convey the mixture of
innocence and wonder that makes the film work. In Japanese you have Noriko
Hidaka as Satsuki and Chika Sakamoto as Mei. Both girls do a fine job. Sakamoto
makes Mei just cute enough that you don’t want to strangle her when she gets
bratty. Hidaka also does a great job combining the affection and annoyance of
having a younger sibling to take care of. Their interaction with each other and
the other characters goes a long way to making the whole thing work. There have
been two English dubs for this film one done in 1993 for Fox and one in 2005
for Disney. Both English dubs work well, with Dakota and Elle Fanning appearing
in the Disney version with Lea Salonga (of Aladdin
fame) as their mother.I
usually like to watch this one in Japanese, because of the very Japanese
setting, but both English dubs work just fine and allow English speaking
viewers a chance to enjoy the animation.

Mei in hot pursuit of the white rabbit... I meanlittle and medium Totoros!

If there is one criticism
you can level at My Neighbor Totoro
it is that the film doesn’t have a traditional narrative. The movie plays out
more like a series of vignettes about the girls moving into the new home with
their father and how they adapt to the changes and the fact that their mother
is still very ill. There is a story arc of sorts, as both girls grow up a bit
over the course of the movie. But there is no antagonist to challenge the
girls, or grand goal or objective at the heart of the film, at least not one
that is obvious. As a writer I really admire how Miyazaki and his crew are able
to make this approach work. We connect immediately with the girls, most of us
have moved to a new home and had to deal with all the strange things we
encounter. I love how Satsuki and Mei have this mixture of excitement, fear and
daring in the first portion of the film as they explore the “haunted house” and
meet the dust bunnies. Even the scenes where the girls meet Totoro are an
interesting mixture of suspense and wonder. All these moments keep us
interested in the girls and what they are going to encounter next.

Satsuki is isolated in this frame, as she searchesfor the lost Mei.

In many ways this film
reminds me strongly of Alice in
Wonderland as envisioned by Disney or the Jim Henson film Labyrinth. You get a series of
encounters and adventures, but not a clear plot path. The story seems to
meander at times as you take the journey with the characters. But by the time
it is over, you realize that each moment played into the character’s growth in
some way and by the end of the film they have learned something about
themselves.

It takes a deft touch to
make something like My Neighbor Totoro work.
For me this is the first film where everything comes together just about
perfectly for Miyazaki. His abilty to capture that childlike wonder, that
thrill of discovery, the fear of the unknown and the dispair of losing someone
so important to you – all these elements come into play in this simple story.
But it is that simplicity that makes the film so endearing, entertaining and
have that staying power. Pretty much anyone who sees My Neighbor Totoro will not forget it. Children connect with the
girls and the cute and helpful Totoro. Adults will pick up on the nostalgia for
a simpler time and the delightful visuals that capture the imagination. Miyazaki
even manages to include a little ecological message about the Totoros being
spirits of the forest and being attracted growing plants.

The leaf hat just isn't cutting it.

Of course some folks find
the whole thing just too cute, or too slight. While I can understand that to a
point, I think they don’t understand the core of the film. My Neighbor Totoro Isn’t going for the narrative scope of something
like Princess Mononoke or even Castle of Cagliostro. It is about a
family dealing with some serious issues, a sick mother, a big move to a very
different place and meeting new neighbors. But it does it from the point of
view of children, who see some of these things as games, fantasy or sometimes
as confusing and scary events. That is the magic of the film. Miyazaki reaches
younger viewers who feel like the film is speaking to them. It reaches older
viewers because it reminds us of our childhood and some of the great and
amazing things we experienced. My
Neighbor Totoro is a must see for anyone who enjoys good entertainment. I
can understand why it is many people’s favorite Miyazaki film, and while I rate
a few other films a bit higher, it is the start of his winning streak.

The girls rush to find adventure in the "haunted house".

Time for a snack after the move.

The girls visit their sick mother.

She seeks him here, she seeks him there. She seeksthat rascal everywhere.

And then this happened... a cat bus appeared.

"Are you seeing this $%@&?" "Yeah, I totally seea Cat Bus."

The girls and the Totoro's combine forces to make thelittle acorns grow.

4 comments:

There are films we loved as kids that are just embarrassing when revisited as adults: “I know I was just 6 (or 8, 10, 12, or what-have-you), but how could I have liked this tripe?” There are limits to how much of a child’s perspective we are able to recapture. The films that still hold up (for which one’s inner child isn’t scolded by one’s outer adult) are the great ones. They are the true family films and not just pure kids’ fare. It takes an artist – a bunch of them really – to get the mix right.

I am aware of Totoro in the same way I’m aware of SpongeBob SquarePants. I can identify them while lacking the experience to judge the content. Thanks for the context on Totoro.

Yeah it really does take skill to make a film for the whole family (and the young at heart). Miyazaki makes it look easy, but one of the key factors to his film is that he never talks down to the audience. The stories and characters are simple, but he never dumbs them down. I would say most kid targeted animation makes that mistake when Hollywood is involved. One of the exceptions is Pixar, and that is because they love Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's works and used them as examples of how to make a good movie.

Good review. It's not one of my favorite Miyazaki films, but I've only seen it once, and it just seemed too simple for me too. I loved the visuals, but the story seemed weak or something. Sometimes anime gets too saccharine or sweet for my taste too. That said though I should revisit this film and see if I just wasn't in the proper mood at the time. Sometimes I'll revisit a film and it will resonant differently with me.

I had a friend when this came out on VHS and he told me his boys both loved the film. I can see that easily.

Yeah this is probably the most simple and straight forward of Miyazaki's films. Even "Ponyo" has a more complex plot and themes. But I think the simplicity really works and allows you to focus on some of the excellent animation and mood of the film.

But yeah, I can totally see why some folk just don't connect with it too much. Of all this kid friendly films, my favorite is probably "Kiki's Delivery Service". I think "Spirited Away" is a better film, but I can always throw on "Kiki" and have a great time.

Featured Sections

About Me

I'm a writer who loves movies, books, video games and music. Wow, that's pretty generic eh? Been a staff writer for DVD Verdict.com and animeondvd.com. I worked at a video store for nearly 10 years. Still working on genre fiction both short and novel length.